November/12/ 2017
Stories
Chapter 3:
Give it!
Rye Video:
Hebrews 12:2 NKJB “Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith”
1. Giving is a hard thing
Where does this selfishness come from?
a. Need to feel secure:
b. Need to feel significant:
c. Need to feel satisfied:
2. Giving is a heart thing
John 3:16 “God so loved the world that He gave…”
Romans 5:8 HCSB “But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!
Romans 12:1 NCV “since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him.”
2 Corinthians 8:7-8 NLT “Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. 8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.
3. Giving is an honor thing
Proverbs 3:9 NIV “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops…”
a. What does God want? All of us.
verse 9 “honor the Lord with your wealth”
b. When does he want it? First thing.
Verse 9b “with the firstfruits”
Matthew 6:24 NIV “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
c. How does he want it? From the heart
2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Proverbs 3:10 NIV “then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine”
Luke 6:38 NIV “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
November/12/ 2017
Stories
Chapter 4
Use it
Evans Video
Hebrews 12:2 “Jesus Christ the author and perfecter of our faith.”
Ephesians 5:14-16 “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
1. Fear
Fear of failure:
Fear of rejection:
Fear of the unknown:
2. Laziness
Proverbs 24:30 "I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense.31 I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down.32 Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson:33 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—34 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber."
3. Excuses
Luke 14:18-20 “They all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I’ve just bought a field and I must go and see it please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I’ve just bought five yoke of oxen and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Still another said, ‘I just got married so I can’t come.’”
If we are going to make the most of our stories what will we have to do?
1. Recognize
verse 14 “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Relationship with God
Relationship with People
2. Strategize
verse 15 "be very careful how you live not as unwise but as wise"
a. Spontaneously
b. Sporadically
c. Strategically.
3. Utilize
verse 16 “making the most of every opportunity"
